'Nigel, good, you're back.' Dr Macy was striding out of his office towards him.

'Sorry, Dr M, but I'm not – I've got somewhere that I have to be – '

'Not today you don't. There was a shooting – a young boy – we'll need all hands on deck for this one.'

'But, Dr Macy – '

'No buts, Nigel, we need everyone on this case. You're not going anywhere. Meet me in the receiving room – five minutes. Got it?'

'Sure…' Nigel said dejectedly, turning to the break room to call Alexis's hotel.

'Hello?'

'Hey, Alexis, it's me. Nigel.' He was fidgeting and twirling the cord around his finger.

'Hey, Nigel.' Disappointment was already becoming apparent in her voice.

'Look, I'm really, really sorry, but there was a shooting, and they need everyone here – it's a cop case, and I am so, so sorry –'

Alexis interrupted. 'Nigel, it's okay… I saw it on the news. Your colleagues need you. Really, it's okay. I've been alone on Saturday nights before. Trust me, I'll be fine. You be careful, though, okay? This sounds like a really bad case. I'll just hang around here. Whenever you're done, you're welcome to come over for a coffee. Alright?'

'You're awesome, you know that?' Nigel said, smiling into the phone. 'But I'll make it up to you, I promise.'

'You just do your job – and I'll see you later.'

Nigel heard her sigh over the phone, and then there was nothing but a dial tone. Slamming the receiver down, Nigel thought of everything she had told him only an hour before, and now he was letting her down.

By the time Lu was rolled into the morgue, Nigel had been stretched far too thin. His time with Kate, though an interesting experience, had been taxing. And once he was sure he wouldn't be missed, he ran to the garage and jumped on his bike.

Nigel wove his way though the though the eerily quiet early morning streets. Reaching the hotel, he stood outside for a time wondering if he should go in or not. She had said to come any time, but it was three in the morning by now. Somehow, though, he knew that she was waiting for him.

He knocked on the door, and heard shuffling within. When the door opened, he was greeted by Alexis, soft and sleepy, standing before him in a silky, olive green camisole and pajama pants. 'Good morning,' Alexis said, smiling.

'Good morning,' Nigel replied kissing her on the cheek.

'C'mon in,' she smiled, opening the door farther, and stepping back to let him through.

The hotel room was large, and dimly lit by a small gas fireplace opposite a plush cream-coloured couch. Alexis had obviously been sitting there, as there was a matching throw cover rumpled on the floor. 'Did I disturb your nap?'

'No, I was actually watching the news. I told you to come by anytime.' She strode over to the couch and shifted blankets and cushions to make room. 'Do you want a coffee or something? My company went all out, so I have a fully stocked kitchenette and mini bar – complimentary.'

'If you wouldn't mind, I wouldn't say no to something stronger than a coffee,' he told her, sitting down on the spot she had cleared. Alexis strode off into an adjoining room. When she returned, she had two wine glasses full to the brim with burgundy liquid, along with a bottle under her arm. 'Thanks, luv.'

'Hard night, I'd guess,' she said, sitting down beside him and handing him the glass. 'I saw the media version of events.'

'Yeah. One of the cops that died tonight was Woody's ex. She was shot. Jordan tried to save her, but CPR didn't work, and she died on the way to the hospital… And, of course, my night wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs.'

'Oh? And why's that?' Alexis was watching him intently.

'Well, there's this new ME, a Doctor Kate Switzer, and she's got a real attitude on her.'

'I'd think that after working with Jordan that that wouldn't be such a big deal.'

'Not that kind of attitude… it's more of a distaste of everyone at the morgue – like she's only there to work. She's got a horrible attitude, and she was terribly insulting. I mean, if I was trying to save your life, would you insult me?'

'Of course not.'

'Exactly – and that's exactly what she did! And now she wants me to buy her a new car, because apparently I got hers stolen! There was some guy pointing a gun at her, and she wouldn't get out of the car! I pulled her out, and she acted as if I was the one who had pointed the gun at her!'

'That is the weirdest reaction of gratitude I've ever heard of,' she said, sipping the wine and curling her legs underneath her.

Nigel looked over at her small figure on the couch, and told her, 'You're really something, you know?'

'Am I? And what brings this revelation about?'

'Well, I stood you up, and here I am complaining to you about my night.' Nigel placed his glass on the table and turned to face her. 'How was your night?'

'Uneventful,' Alexis smiled, cupping her glass between her fingers. 'I just… chilled here, really. Did some thinking. About me, about you, about Jessica… about everything. Do you think…' She paused and set the glass down. 'Do you think you could stay here tonight?' she asked, putting her hands in her lap. 'Not, as in, um, stay the night, but, like, keep me company?' She stopped again, and started, 'I-I just don't think I want to be alone-'

''Course, luv… I don't really feel like being alone tonight, either.' Nigel smiled lightly, and held his arm out to Alexis, who crawled over and put her head on his shoulder. As the gas fireplace flickered, they lapsed into silence. After only a few minutes, Nigel heard Alexis's breathing slow, and felt her small hands loosen their grip on his. Looking down, he saw she had a look of intense calm she hadn't had yet since he had met her. With his free hand, he picked up the fallen blanket, and covered her bare shoulders. She cuddled deeper onto his arm, and her hair fell in front of her face. Tucking it behind her ear, he said quietly, 'Sweet dreams, Alexis Edwards.'

A few hours later, when he woke up, Alexis was lying with her head in his lap, and his arm draped over her waist. Looking over at the clock, he wondered vaguely how he was supposed to get up without waking her. In the end, he decided to carry her to bed. Slowly are carefully, he lifted her up, and tucked her into the plush cotton sheets in another room. Before he left, he scribbled down a quick note to leave on her pillow, and made his way to the garage so he could get to the morgue on time… or, at least, on time enough that no one would be suspicious… mainly, Bug.

'Nigel!'

Groaning, Nigel stopped in his tracks as Bug called out his name in the receiving room. 'Hey, Bug, what's-'

'Weren't you wearing that yesterday?' he asked accusingly.

'Well, you see, Buggles, I sort of slept over at Alexis's last night, but-'

'You what!? Nigel! What did I tell you about Alexis Edwards?'

'That she's delicate and I couldn't have any one night stands with her! I know! Bug! I didn't sleep with her, okay? Well, okay, I did sleep with her, but I didn't have sex with her. That's all we did, Bug: sleep.'

'What do you mean, sleep?'

'As in, counting sheep, dreams, you know, not awake? I don't know what you think about me, or what Dr Macy thinks about me, but damn it, Bug, I do have principals, okay? I'm not just some sexual rogue that sleeps with every woman I come into contact with! I do have feelings, okay, Bug? We had a nice long talk, the two of us, about her past, so I promise you I would never hurt her.'

'Nigel, it's got nothing to do with you, alright? You've heard all about her past, so you know why I'm so protective of her, right? I don't trust you with her. After what happened in London-'

'Wait, wait, wait. What happened in London?'

Bug stood silent, mere inches from Nigel, and stuttered out, 'N-nothing happened i-in London-'

'Bug! You can't just say something like that and then just take it back! Did you two sleep together or something?'

'If she hasn't told you, I certainly won't! See this is why I'm worried! You just can't let up when something bothers you! It drives you nuts when you don't know something! You just bugger on until you have all the information. That won't do when dealing with a girl like Alexis.'

A tense silence spread across the two until Nigel broke it with, 'Look, Bug: you may not like it, but as long as Alexis says okay, I'll be perusing her. I promise I'll be a respectable gentleman, but I'm not going to stop being myself just because you say so.'

Bug stepped forward until the two were barely an inch apart. 'You hurt her, so help me, I will hurt you.'